Utilities Tax

The utilities tax is applied to businesses that provide public utility services.

Both private utility companies and municipalities that provide utility services must pay the tax. The types of public utility services subject to the tax are:

Gas

Water

Electricity

Steam

Wastewater and rainwater drainage

Telecommunications and telephone

Cable television

Waste collection and recycling

Guidelines to follow

To register for Seattle utility taxes, email tax@seattle.gov. Please include your business name, customer number or City account number, type of utility you provide (e.g., electric, telephone) and the desired reporting frequency (annual, quarterly or monthly).

Read the code

You can read the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) for legal details about the utilities tax.SMC Chapter 5.48 covers the utilities tax.